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• 2009-09-21 - Back from central coast kayak trip (1 paragraphs, 12 photos)

  I got home from my trip north on Saturday night, a day that involved 11 hours on ferries plus 5 hours in a car. All in all a great trip, even if the weather was rainier and windier than I had hoped it might be (but to be expected in September). I paddled a total of 225 km, with my longest day covering 42 km; encountered humpback whales, porpoises, sea otters and sandhill cranes; paddled in 4 meter swell, albeit only for about ten minutes before I chickened out; and saw rugged open Pacific coastline and mountain-backed ghost towns. Here are some impressions:

  • View from Kynumpt Harbour
  • Sunset at Kynumpt Harbour
  • Macmullen Group islands
  • Macmullen Group island
  • Macmullen Group island
  • Sagar Lake beach
  • Rocky outcropping
  • Abandoned cottage at Wallace Bay
  • Lobby of abandoned building in Ocean Falls
  • Dam at Ocean Falls
  • Abandoned house in Ocean Falls
  • Scrap heap and the abandoned Co-op supermarket in Ocean Falls
• 2009-09-04 - Two week central coast kayak tour (1 paragraphs)

  I'm heading out for a two week paddle in B.C.'s central coast region. I'll be catching the ferry from Port Hardy to Bella Bella on Saturday evening, and returning on the 18th. My progress will be tracked this map (updated on Sep 20 with final route):

• 2009-07-20 - Kayaking: Swartz Bay - San Juan Island - Mayne (11 paragraphs)

  For a while now, I've wanted to paddle from Swartz Bay back home to Mayne. I've also wanted to check out some of the San Juan islands. Last weekend, I figured I'd combine the two. To make it in the 2½ days available, timing was paramount because I had to make a number of crossings at slack tide to avoid strong currents. My route was also limited due the few ports of entry available to touch land after crossing the international border. Unfortunately, that meant I didn't have very much time to explore the various islands I visited. Here's an interactive map of my route:

• 2009-07-07 - Manny's Tables: free Current Atlas chart lookup tables (1 paragraphs)

  Having been frustrated in my efforts to find Murray's Tables in stock at any retailers, I finally decided to roll my own since the calculations are actually quite simple. Using the output of xtide and a few Python scripts I wrote on this rainy morning, I've produced and posted my own chart lookup tables for the Canadian Hydrographic Service's Current Atlas: Juan de Fuca Strait to Strait of Georgia. I've also posted the scripts I used to generate them, in case anyone finds them useful. Enjoy, kayakers!

• 2009-07-06 - Kayaking Prevost, Active Pass, and northwest Mayne (9 paragraphs)

  I've been getting fairly serious about kayaking lately. I first started paddling on Parker Island, since there were kayaks available to use, but didn't really know what I was doing and mostly limited myself to the immediate area of Parker Island. Since moving to Mayne I'd been missing it, so after taking a friend's boat out a couple of times and loving it I picked up a used Delta 15.5 in February. I've also taken a few courses to build my skills and feel comfortable paddling in more the more challenging conditions around Mayne Island.

• 2009-06-22 - Pictures of Tumbo and Cabbage Islands (3 photos)
  • Looking toward Pine Islet from my campsite on Cabbage Island
  • Garry oak meadow at Tumbo Pt
  • Looking over the tombolo
• 2008-12-14 - Mayne Island in the snow (6 photos)
  • Old barn
  • Rosehips
  • Alexis
  • Corner of old barn
  • Sheep
  • Willow
• 2008-12-03 (1 photos)
  • Seals at Helen Point
• 2008-12-01 (1 photos)
  • Dusk on the Fraser River, from the Alex Fraser bridge
• 2008-05-10 - Some pictures Alexis took of the house and yard (10 photos)
  • Parlour
  • Living Room
  • Kitchen
  • Shed from bedroom balcony
  • Garden Path
  • Tulips
  • Zeke under the maple tree
  • Hanging Lights
  • Yellow Chair on Deck
  • Mystery Bush Growing Up Wall
• 2008-03-30 - Stalking wild goats on Saturna Island (6 photos)
  • Goat trail
  • Goat trail and Taylor Pt
  • Group of wild goats
  • Wild goat
  • Wild goats
  • Mt. Baker
• 2008-02-15 - Picture of rusted old truck on Wallace Island (1 photos)
  • Rusted old truck on Wallace Island
• 2008-02-13 - Picture of dark sky over Pender Island (1 photos)
  • Dark sky over Pender Island
• 2008-02-11 - Picture of our horses (1 photos)
  • Joe and Sarge
• 2007-11-11 - Finally, some pictures of our new place (8 photos)
  • Driveway (facing toward house)
  • Cob cottage, where are currently living (side view)
  • Cob cottage, where are currently living (front view)
  • The house, where we will be moving in January (back view)
  • Back garden
  • View of Punch's valley from the back yard
  • Pond
  • Driveway (facing away from house)
• 2007-09-28 - We're Mayniacs (4 paragraphs)

  Incase you haven't heard, Alexis and I are buying a place on Mayne Island. It's a 3.7-acre property with an apple orchard, various other fruit trees, a house, and a cob cottage on it. We just finished moving our stuff over last night, and are currently living in the cottage while the current owner of the property awaits her visa for immigration to England. I'll post some pictures of the property soon, but in the meantime you can check out some pictures of the cottage we're living in: see the first set of images on this link.

• 2007-06-02 - Mt Albert Edward (3 photos)
  • Heading up the Mt Albert Edward ridge
  • View from Mt Albert Edward ridge
  • View from Mt Albert Edward ridge
• 2007-05-26 - Eagles (2 photos)
  • Eagle on snow-covered whale rock in the morning
  • Eagle on tree branch
• 2007-03-01 - ZBS - Moon over Morocco (2 paragraphs)

  If you're at all interested in audio drama, ZBS is podcasting Moon Over Morocco, the second of the Jack Flanders series, in its original 50 12-minute episodes. The podcast started today, and only the past three days' episodes will be available, so don't delay. I haven't actually heard any of the Jack Flanders series before, but Alexis recommends it, and ZBS's Ruby series is excellent, so I'm very much looking forward to listening to this podcast.

• 2006-11-24 (1 photos)
  • Black walnut tree at the Acken farm
• 2006-11-23 (3 photos)
  • Pool at Forbidden Plateau
  • Mt Albert Edward Ridge
  • Mt Albert Edward Ridge
• 2006-11-10 - For Susan (3 photos)
  • Ron H.
  • Ron's House
  • One of the many paths scary paths to Ron's house
• 2006-09-21 (1 photos)
  • Mt. Albert Edward seen from the Forbidden Plateau
• 2006-09-20 (1 photos)
  • Alexis, Zeke, Li'l Butt, and I atop Mt. Albert Edward
• 2006-07-29 (1 photos)
  • Another sunset
• 2006-07-28 (1 photos)
  • Martin Mars water bomber taking off after reloading in Trincomali Channel
• 2006-07-25 (1 photos)
  • California Road Trip: Stellar Sea Lion Cave
• 2006-07-24 (1 photos)
  • California Road Trip: Us at Crater Lake
• 2006-07-23 (1 photos)
  • California Road Trip: Alexis emerges from a lava tube
• 2006-06-07 (1 photos)
  • Bald Eagle seen from the front lawn
• 2006-06-06 (1 photos)
  • Meadowmist Farm (where Alexis farmsits sometimes), from Mt. Parke
• 2006-05-28 (1 photos)
  • Arbutus at Mt. Parke ridge
• 2006-05-22 (1 photos)
  • Snag at Pebble Beach
• 2006-03-26 (1 photos)
  • Parallel Driftwood at Bear Beach
• 2006-03-24 (1 photos)
  • Sunset light filtering through forest
• 2006-03-23 (1 photos)
  • Bear Beach
• 2006-03-21 (1 photos)
  • Waterfall at Bear Beach
• 2006-03-20 (1 photos)
  • Rock-on-a-Pillar at Bear Beach
• 2006-03-13 (1 photos)
  • Leafy Apparition
• 2006-03-09 (1 photos)
  • Tafone
• 2006-03-08 (1 photos)
  • Montague Harbour
• 2006-03-07 (1 photos)
  • Dionisio Pt.
• 2006-02-15 (1 photos)
  • The owner's house on Parker Island, taken from Mt. Sutil
• 2006-02-14 (1 photos)
  • Parker Island, where I live, from Mt. Sutil
• 2006-02-12 (1 photos)
  • Mt. Baker
• 2006-02-10 (1 photos)
  • Arbutus
• 2006-02-09 (1 paragraphs, 1 photos)

  These aerial photos of Mexico City that have been going around the 'net are worth taking a look at. It's a beautiful city that I've enjoyed spending days wandering around. It's fun to see some places I recognize from the air (not to mention some parts where I wouldn't feel at all safe).

  • Cormorant stretching its wings at the Village Bay ferry dock
• 2006-02-08 (1 photos)
  • Derelict Machinery on Mount Sutil
• 2006-02-01 (1 photos)
  • Portland Island with Olympic Mountains
• 2006-01-31 (1 photos)
  • Lighted Arbutus Branch
• 2006-01-27 (2 photos)
  • Playing with Fire
  • Playing with Fire
• 2006-01-26 (2 photos)
  • Playing with Fire
  • Playing with Fire
• 2006-01-20 (1 photos)
  • Crumbling paved section of Brush Creek
• 2006-01-16 - Siblings-in-law in Kansas City (3 photos)
  • Elizabeth, Alexis, and Nathaniel, and a Henry Moore in front of the Nelson Atkins museum
  • Alexis pushes Nathaniel into a fountain
  • Nathaniel and Rachel
• 2006-01-15 (3 photos)
  • Mayne and North Pender Islands from Collinson Pt, Galiano
  • Prevost Pass
  • Saltspring Sunset
• 2005-12-12 (1 photos)
  • Recreational boats at Savary Island, Aug 2005
• 2005-12-11 (1 photos)
  • Tree down over trail on a misty morning, Parker Island
• 2005-12-10 (1 photos)
  • Phillmore Point on a golden morning
• 2005-11-24 (1 photos)
  • Looking into Strathcona Park from a logging road near Gold River, BC (Aug 2005)
• 2005-11-23 (1 photos)
  • View toward Mayne Island from Saturna
• 2005-11-17 (2 paragraphs, 1 photos)

  Permanent residence for Alexis, a new contract, and clearing up a backlog of pictures.

• 2005-10-20 (1 photos)
  • View toward Prevost Island on a misty morning, Parker Island BC
• 2005-10-17 (1 photos)
  • Power lines on a misty morning, Parker Island
• 2005-10-03 (1 photos)
  • Kunlin Lake, near Gold River BC
• 2005-09-23 (1 photos)
  • Waterfall, near Kunlin Lake BC, Aug 2005
• 2005-09-20 (1 photos)
  • Birch trees, near Kunlin Lake BC
• 2005-09-17 - UPS gets stuck in a loop (1 paragraphs)

  Apparently UPS is a bit confused about the location of Parker Island. A package was sent to me recently, and I guess they figured I'm somewhere between Richmond and Nanaimo, since they sent a package back and forth three times between those locations. The sender did get their money back. Oh, and before you ask, no, UPS does not actually deliver to Parker Island (year-round population: 6, reachable only by private boat). I had to pick up the package on Galiano Island. Here's the relevant portion of the tracking log:

• 2005-09-15 (1 photos)
  • Sand Dunes, Savary Island BC
• 2005-09-14 (1 photos)
  • Sailboats, Desolation Sound BC
• 2005-09-12 (1 photos)
  • Beach and Desolation Sound, Savary Island BC
• 2005-09-09 (1 photos)
  • Bent tree and driftwood bike rack, Savary Island BC
• 2005-09-08 (2 photos)
  • “The Hulks,” a floating breakwater made of ten ships, Powell River BC
  • One of “The Hulks,” Powell River BC
• 2005-09-06 (1 photos)
  • Powell River pulp mill silhouette at sunset
• 2005-07-16 (1 photos)
  • Big Cedar, Upper Walbran Valley
• 2005-07-14 - LiveTree (1 paragraphs)

  I've released the first alpha of LiveTree, which is DHTML tree (hierarchical list) widget that loads data asynchronously as-needed (using AJAX). It features tight integration with Ruby on Rails, but other web app servers can easily support it as well. Check it out.

• 2005-07-13 - Fletcher Falls and Flowers (Upper Walbran) (4 photos)
  • Flowers
  • Falls
  • Pool
  • Valley
• 2005-07-12 (1 photos)
  • White spider with pink stripe on flower (near Pemberton, B.C.)
• 2005-07-11 - Bread Boat (1 paragraphs, 1 photos)

  This boat, the Atrevida, is moored in Montague Harbour on weekends during the summer and sells baked goods. We've bought their delicious dark rye bread a couple of times now, and today kayaked over for some bread and a snack, and a chat over coffee with the owners. In the past, the boat has served as a five-car, forty-passenger ferry for Texada Island and Gabriola Island. It has since been converted into a beautiful living (and baking) space. For more information about its history, see this article .

  • The Atrevida
• 2005-06-21 (1 photos)
  • Woman feeding pigs along the Lochside trail in Saanich
• 2005-06-20 (3 photos)
  • Hanging out on a little beach on one of the Hawkins Islets
  • Kayaking between two of the Hawkins Islets
  • Watching a ferry go by
• 2005-06-10 (1 photos)
  • View of Mayne Island from Galiano Mountain
• 2005-06-07 - Walbran Valley pictures (1 paragraphs, 3 photos)

  We spent three nights at the Walbran Bridge Camp. Lots of logging has been going on in the area since the last time I visited. I didn't take very many pictures, but I took a bunch last time I visited if your interested. It's awfully difficult to convey the scale of some of the trees there and their unique personalities in pictures, and none of my attempts are worth posting.

  • Broken pottery by Emerald Pool camp
  • Alexis climbs big cedar
  • Alexis climbs big cedar
• 2005-06-02 - Some pictures of Parker Island (3 photos)
  • Daisies and power lines (these lines run across Parker Island and then go under-sea to provide power to other gulf islands and backup power for Vancouver Island)
  • Shady spot in swamp
  • Foxglove and the road that runs from one end of Parker Island to the other
• 2005-06-01 - Some pictures of Paradise Meadows/Forbidden Plateau (1 paragraphs, 7 photos)

  Alexis and I went up to Strathcona Park to do some hiking. We started at the paradise meadows trailhead (by Mt Washington) and wanted to get to Mt Albert Edward, but there was too much snow and after a couple of hours of wandering around trying to find the trail, decided to head back and camp at Lake Helen Mackenzie. It was a lovely hike, even if we didn't get to our destination, and Zeke had a lot of fun in the snow. Afterwards, we headed over to Quadra Island (which had a different feel compared to the southern Gulf Islands) to visit a couple of folks from the cob workshop (no pics of Quadra Island, though I wish I had taken a picture of a great hex/octagonal house with a tower we drove by). Today we're back on Parker to get some caretaking work done, and tomorrow we head up to the Walbran for a few days.

  • Stream through Paradise Meadows
  • The snow begins, with Mt. Albert Edward in the background
  • View over the Forbidden Plateau towards the east
  • Interesting tree bark
  • Old Bridge near Lake Helen Mackenzie
  • This bird (and two of its friends/enemies) enjoyed eating our trail mix at the campsite.
  • Alexis drinks from a stream
• 2005-05-26 (1 photos)
  • The Caretaker Cottage
• 2005-04-08 - Site Downtime (3 paragraphs)

  This site has been down for a week or so. It was hosted on a friend's computer that was on a cable modem connection and was hacked. Thanks to his diligence, everything was backed and nothing has been lost. I've now moved this site over to a professional host, which has a more reliable and faster Internet connection.

• 2005-03-27 (1 photos)
  • Freighter coming through Trincomali Channel (taken from Peile Point on Prevost Island)
• 2005-03-24 (1 photos)
  • Alexis and Zeke looking at sea life
• 2005-03-13 (2 photos)
  • Faerie Door, Mt. Erskine, Salt Spring Island
  • Faerie's View, Mt. Erskine, Salt Spring Island
• 2005-03-03 - Updates (8 paragraphs)

  It's been a while since I've posted anything here (and even longer since I've posted any text), so I guess it's time for a brief update.

• 2005-01-10 (2 photos)
  • Snowy bench on on a sunny day
  • Zeke and slanted tree in the snow
• 2005-01-09 (2 photos)
  • Our cottage in the snow
  • Arbutus covered with snow

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